For the first time since 1614, the
Vatican issued a revised rite of exorcism on Jan. 26, 1998, making it the last
of the churchs liturgical books to be updated after the Second Vatican
Council (1962-65).

Titled De Exorcismis et Supplicationibus Quibusdam --
Of Exorcisms and Certain Supplications -- the text carries a new
warning that exorcists first of all, must not consider people to be vexed
by demons who are suffering above all from some psychic illness. It
cautions against treating people as possessed who are instead victims of
imagination.

The 84-page document leaves the prayers and exhortations largely
unchanged from the 1614 edition, though Vatican officials said some of the more
colorful descriptions of the devil were removed in keeping with church teaching
that Satan is a spirit without body, without color and without
odor.

To date the new ritual exists only in Latin, though translations
into the vernacular languages are planned. Like all liturgical texts,
translations of the exorcism rite must be approved by the various bishops
conferences and then submitted to Rome for review. Priests authorized by their
bishop to perform exorcisms can use the new Latin version now, but if they wish
to use a vernacular edition the older text remains in force.

The following are excerpts from the older English version:

The priest says: I command you, unclean spirit, whoever you
are, along with all your minions now attacking this servant of God, by the
mysteries of the incarnation, passion, resurrection and ascension of our Lord
Jesus Christ, by the descent of the Holy Spirit, by the coming of our Lord for
judgment, that you tell me by some sign your name, and the day and hour of your
departure. I command you, moreover, to obey me to the letter, I who am a
minister of God despite my unworthiness; nor shall you be emboldened to harm in
any way this creature of God, or the bystanders, or any of their
possessions.

Depart, then, transgressor. Depart, seducer, full of lies
and cunning, foe of virtue, persecutor of the innocent. Give place, abominable
creature, give way, you monster, give way to Christ, in whom you found none of
your works. For He has already stripped you of your powers and laid waste your
kingdom, bound you prisoner and plundered your weapons. He has cast you forth
into the outer darkness, where everlasting ruin awaits you and your abettors.
You are guilty before His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, whom you presumed
to tempt, whom you dared to nail to the cross. You are guilty before the whole
human race, to whom you proferred by your enticements the poisoned cup of
death.

According to Jesuit Fr. Robert Taft, an expert on Eastern churches
who teaches at Romes Gregorian University, the formal Orthodox ritual of
exorcism is similar to that of the Catholic church. He added, however, that
Orthodox prayer books have a whole sackful of other prayers and rites
that are used to cast out demons.